Bottle cap assembling machine



y 1932- A. WEISENBURG BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 19294 Sheets-Sheet l u n R M m E T N T El A VE WWW May 17, 1932. AWEISENBURG BOTTLE! CAP ASSEMFSLTNG MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR An fir EwWeis anbma BY MTORNEY 7 IT ES/S'i y 1932-A. WEISENBURG 1,858,695

BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gINVENTOR Andrewweissnhurq 11 109 4 21 55 BY ATTORNEY May 17, 1932. A.WEISENB URG BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR w gm 1D T m A m m w r m .T m A 1 Patented May17, 1932 ANDREW UB3, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

-aorrmcu an mcnnm Application filed September 6, 1829. Serial Io.390,753.

This application is a continuation in part of an apphcation filed August4, 1928, Serial ,No. 297,395, and expressly abandoned by the applicant.

The invention relates to a machine for assembling bottle caps andparticularly to such a machine in which the cork or other resilient discis cemented into the metallic shell to form the cap ready for attachmentto a bottle.

The object of this invention is to-provide an improved bottle capassembling machine.

A further object of the invention is to advance the capbody or shellthrough the machine whereby it will be assembled with its cork or discwith little or no relative-movement between the shell and the mechanismwhich advances it.

According to the invention, metallic shells are fed from an automaticfeed device into a position where they are kicked into a guide- Way andadvanced by a special intermittent feeding member where they aresupplied with glue or with a glue paper disc and from which they aretransferred onto a star wheel and held between the fingers of the sameby their skirt edges, eans along the course of travel of said shells forheating the glue or paper therein, means for successively positiomngcork or other resilient discs above the open end of the shell, and meansso timed as to force the disc into the shell when the same is fed to theposition above the shell and to carry the thus assembled cap toa pointwhere it is transferred onto other. means for carr trying the thenfinished cap to a packing box.

The machine is also provided with means to prevent the feeding of thecork or resilient disc into position when the shell is missing.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention and the viewstherein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing one end of the machine broken away,

Figure "2 is an end elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3,

Figure 5 is a still further enlarged top plan view of the disc feedingmechanism,

J Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section showing the manner of supporting'theshell in its travel'to the star wheel and is taken on the line 77 ofFigure 2,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectlonal view taken on the line 88of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectlonal view showing the manner ofdischargng the completed caps from the turret and IS taken on the line99 of Figure 1,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the discharger, and

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the member which kicks the shells fromthe feeding mechanism into the means for intermittently advancing themto the star wheel and shows the said means broken away.

The entire mechanism is driven from the main shaft 14 which is connectedto any suitable source of power (not shown), and is mounted in suitablehearings on the table 15 upon which the several mechanisms are in turnmounted.

The machine consists, broadly stated, in a supply trough 16' for feedingthe shells onto a platform-17 where they are intermittently andsuccessively kicked by a vfeed arm 18 onto an intermittently advancingmember 19 for advancing the same to a star wheel 21 and positioning thembetween the fingers 22 of the said star wheel.

The supply trough usually has a hopper (not shown) from which the shellspass by gravity and such structure is not shown in detail, as it. isconsidered that any person having any knowledge whatsoever of this artis familiar with the same.

During the passage from the supply trough to the star wheel, the shellsare supplied with a small quantity of glue or with a cut paper dischaving glue on both sides and which is l of substantially the samediameter as the inside width of the shell.

In the present instance I have shown at 23 an old and well known meansfor cutting the paper discs and placing the same in the shells. Thismechanism is substantially the same as the paper cutting and feedingmechanism shown in the patent of R. G. Clark, No.

i be used when it is desired to use glue and for this urpose that shownin the patent of C. E. cManus, No. 1,444,515, dated February 6, 1923will illustrate the principle, although the details may be different.

After the shell is fed into the star wheel 21, which moves in thedirection shown by the arrow, the glue, or glue covered paper,

therein is heated by means of a burner 24 which conditions the glue forreceiving a cork or other resilient disc.

The disc is fed to a position directly above the open shell by thefeeding mechanism 26. At the moment the disc is positioned directlyabove the open shell, one of the plungers 27 on the turret 28 drops downoff the shelf 29 and drives the disc home into the bottom of the shell.This plunger continues to exert pressure by means of the spring 31'around the same until such time as the plunger is raised by means of theinclined face 32 leading to the shelf 29 and the shell is wiped oil theturret by means of the discharger 33, shown in Figures 9 and 10. Thedirection of rotation of the turret is shown by the arrow.

The completed shell is dropped onto the rotating member 34 from whenceit is discharged onto the endless belt 36 which deposits it at thedesired point.

The supply trough 16 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is curved at its lower endso as to deposit a shell in the position shown in Figure 1 by the shell37. At the moment the shell arrives at this point the feed arm 18 is inthe position shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 11, this feed arm is controlled by means of thecam face 38 which operates the bell crank comprising the arm 39 and thearm 41 and the latter arm has a pin 42 extending through the feed armwhile a spring 43 is so connected to the pin and to the pivotal point 44of the said feed arm as to cause the same to be thrown in the directionof the arrow when the high point of the cam is passed. The feed arm 18is returned to the position shown in the drawings by the action of thecam face 38.

The pins 41' secure the arm 41 to the feed arm 18. The intermittentshell advancing member 19 has a cylindrical body 46 and a continuous rib47 extending from end to end of the same. This rib is formed withsuccessive parts 48 at right angles to the axis of the cylindrical body46 and with inclined or angular parts 49 bet-ween the parts 48. Each ofthe parts 48 and 49 extend 180 with relation to the cylindrical body 46.

The intermittent advancing member 19 has a reduced end 51 to which isaffixed a sprocket 52 and this sprocket connects with a sprocket 53 onthe main drive shaft 14 through a sprocket chain 54.

The platform onto which the disc 37 falls.

from the supply trough 16 so positions the same that, when the shell isadvanced or kicked forward by the feed arm 18 it enters the dove-tailslot 56, which may be formed of a single piece of metal or of the threepieces shown in Figure 7. The side members 57 and 58 have their innersides inclined and the upper plate 59 covers the same.

As the shells are intermittently advanced through the dove-tail 56 bymeans of the rib 57 on the advancing member 19, they are, as beforestated, either provided with a small quantity of glue or with a disc ofpaper having glue on both sides of the same and in this condition theyare, by that intermittent motion, passed from the inner end of the saidadvancing member 19 into the spaces between the fingers 22 on the starwheel 21, the intermittent advancement of the said shells providing justsufiicient time for the star wheel to turn to bring the succeeding spacedirectly in line with the shell when it is passed from the member 19.

The star wheel may be regulated in its mounting so as to procure thisproperly timed relation through the adjustment of the bolts or screws inthe arcuate slots 61. The star wheel is rotated about the table 62through the medium of the pinion 63 mounted on the shaft 64 and meshingwith the rin gear 66 secured to said star wheel, said sha f t having onits lower end a bevel gear 67 which meshes with a like bevel gear 68fixed to the main drive shaft 14. The table is mounted on a standardfastened to the top of the main table 15.

In either case where viscous cementing glue or where paper having glueon both sides of the same is used, it is necessary to heat the same tofuse the cementing mate-- rial and to apply pressure to the cork orother resilient disc until the same sets. former is accomplished throughthe as pipe 24 which is provided with holes orming nozzles from whichthe gas flame is directed thereon to coagulate the cementitiousmaterial.

After the shell has had the glue therein fused it continues to advanceto the point where it receives its cork or other resilient disc and atthe same time is carried in almost a straight line direction from thestar wheel and onto the turret 28.

The disc feeding mechanism 26 is mounted on the table 62. This mechanismis operated by means of the eccentric 69 through the link or nectedthereto. The eccentric is mounted on a shaft extending down through thetable 62 and having a bevel gear on its lower The pitman 71 which ispivotally con- EEC main drive shaft 14.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 6, the feeding mechanism is locatedimmediately beyond a disc supply'tube 72 which is mounted so that itsbottom end is in close proximity with the upper surface of areciprocating feed-bar 73 when the latter is in the position shown inFigure 4.

' The thickness of this reciprocating bar 73 is practically the same asthe thickness of one of the discs which is placed in the shell so thatwhen the said bar is retracted on its forward movement, it will cut outthe lower one of said discs and move the same forward and into theposition shown in Figures 3 and 5 where it will be held against theretaining member or jaw 74 by the action of the pivoted finger 76 whichis urged outward by means of the spring 77. This finger is pivotallymounted on the outer end of the part 79, and the spring 77 is so mountedas to always urge said finger outward," although said movement islimited, as later explained.

The jaw 74 is a continuation of the part 79 and there is fastenedthereto a.flared forward end part 7 4 under which the shells pass andwhich insures their engaging the end 93 of the bar 92, as laterexplained. The end of the jaw 74 is enlarged, as at 74*. I

The outer end or tip of the finger 76 is enlarged, or rather, depends.as shown at 75 on Figure 4, so that it may grasp the disc when the sameis shot forward by the reciprocating feed bar but its other part must bethin in order to permit it to be swung back by the plunger, as laterexplained.

The finger 76 is limited in its forward movement by the plate 80 fixedlysecured to the outer end of the part 79 and acts as a stop for saidfinger, and said plate allows the enlarged end 75 of said finger to cometo rest slightly within the circumference of the disc B, as shown inFigure 5, so that when said disc is shot forward, the enlarged portion75 will bear firmly against the periphery of said disc and hold itsecurely against the retaining member or jaw 74.

The reciprocating feed bar 73 is retained in a slideway 78 on the part79. The inner end of the fed bar has an integrally formed enlarged part81 and an overhanging end 82, and this overhanging end is provided withan undercut block 83 which has an overhanging portion 84.

A pin 86 extends through the bottom of said block 83 and through theoverhanging end 82 and between the top of said pin and the under face ofsaid overhanging portion 84 is a spiral spring 87.

The pin is provided with a round bar 85 which extends through the centerof the same and whose position is clearly indicated in Figure 5.

The pitman 71 is connected at its inner end to the slide bar 88 and whenthe parts are in the position shown in the drawings, a

depression 89 in said slide bar 88 is directly" beneath the pin 86 sothat the spring 87 presses the pm downward into said depression and thusconnects the reciprocating feed bar 73 with the eccentric 69 so that assaid eccentric turns, the reciprocating bar 73 will be fed back andforward and thus a disc B will be fed into the position shown in Figures3 and 6 at the moment when a shell A is brought directly beneath thesame.

I provide means for uncoupling the reciprocatmg feed bar 73 and theslide bar 88 so as to leave the feed bar in the position shown in Flgure4 when a shell is om1tted from any of the spaces between the fingers ofthe star wheel.

Along one side of the part 79 there is ivotally mounted at 91 a bar 92whose en 93 extends directly above the shells as they ad vance towardsthe discs and this bar is offset so that its tendency is to drop intothe position shown in Figure 6 upon the omission or lack of any shell.It is governed, however, in the amount in will drop by the pin 94 in thebase 96 of the disc supplytube 72.

The inner end of this bar 92 engages one end 97 of a member 98 pivotallymounted at 99 and this member has an upper and outwardly extending arm100 whose end is proyided with a V-shaped groove 101 for engagng the bar85 when the end 93 of the bar 92 1s 1n the position shown in Figure 6,to-wit, when no shell is being set under the. same.

During the ordinary operation and when the shells are being fed underthe end 93 of the bar 92, the end 93 will be raised which will lower theend97 of the part 98, thereby raising the extending arm 100, disengagingthe V-shaped groove from the bar 85, where'- upon the spring 102 shownin Figure 5 will draw the bar around. nd the spring'87, compressedabove'the pin\86, will press said pin downward and into the depresslon89.

This will lock the reciprocating feed bar 73 to the slide bar 88 andtherefore the feed bar will be operated by the eccentric 69 andinte'rmittently feed cork or other resilient discs B to the positionshown in Figures 3 and 5.

,When, however, there is an omission of a shell, the end 93 of the bar92 will have no support and will fall into the position shown in Figure6, so that the end 97 of the part 98 will be raised and the extendingarm 100 will connection with this improved machine may be described asfollows.

The turret is driven by a worm 103 on the main shaft 14 meshing with aworm wheel 101 on a shaft 106 which is provided at its upper end withapinion 107 which meshes with a ring gear 108 on the underside of theturret table 109.

At a point near the periphery of the turret and arranged on acircumferentlal line are plungers 27. These plungers are mounted so asto be movable vertically through the circular guide plate 112 andthrough the upper guide plate 113. r

The plungers are each provided with a limiting pin 114 while a spiralspring 116 surrounds said plunger and is compressed between the pin 114and the bottom of the guide plate 113.

The upper end of the plunger is provided with a. pin 117 which extendsradially from the turret and which is adapted to ride up the inclinedface 32 onto the shelf 29. This shelf ends at a point where the plunger,when allowed to drop, assisted by the spring, drives the disc B, whichis held between the jaws 74 and 76 directly into the shell containingthe fused glue.

As the turret continues to move it will press the finger 76 backward soas to pass the same, and the completed cap will now ride on the shelf118 peripherally formed on the turret table 109.

The cap remains upon the turret with the plunger pressing the discsecurely into the shell for almost a complete revolution of the turretand at a point above the rotating member 34 shown in Figure 1immediately behind the inclined end 32 of the shelf 29 where the capsengage with the discharger 33 which is fastened to the frame 119 whichsupports the shelf, whereupon the completed caps are thrown onto theincline 121 where they fall upon the rotating member 34. and from it aretransferred onto the endless belt 36.

During the time that the plunger has driven the disc into the shell anduntil the completed cap strikes the discharger 33, sufficient time haselapsed to allow the glue to harden or set and when the cap is thusdischalrged the disc is firmly cemented in the she I. s

Therotating member 34: is driven by a sprocket 122 from the shaft 123extending down from the center of the turret.

It will be understood that all the. mechanisms are so arranged as togive the desired time relationship to the several parts.

where decorative bottle caps are being assembled and there is anyrelative movement between the cap shell and that member or mechanismwhich carries it, the probabilities are that the decorative materialwill be marred or disfigured when heated.

In the mechanism of this application there shells areheated, they arepassed in'almost.

a straight line from the star wheel to the turretshelf with absolutelyno relative move ment of any of the parts and they remain on this shelfwith no movement until they reach. the disclrarger 33 and at which'pointthe cementitious material is'dry and the shell cooled to such a degreethat the decorative material will not be easily marred or dis- Ofcourse, the bottle cap assembling machine illustrated may be modified invarious ways without departing from the invention herein set-forth andhereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as followsi 4 1. A bottle cap assemblingmachine comprising a conveyor having a rib provided with alternatestraight and inclined parts, feed means for introducing shells onto saidconveyor where they are intermittently advanced, a guide to preventlateral displacement of said shells, a star wheel to which the shellsare"transferred by said conveyor, and means including feeding mechanismfor introducing a resilient disc into said shell.

2. A bottle cap assembling machine comprising a conveyor having a ribprovided with alternate straight and inclined parts, feed means forintroducing shells onto said conveyor where they are intermittentlyadvanced, a guide to prevent lateral displacement of said shells, meansfor introducing cementitious material into said shells, a star wheel towhich the shells are transferred by said conveyor, and means includingfeeding mechanism for introducing a resilient disc into said shell.

3. A bottle cap assembling machine comprising a conveyor having a ribprovided with alternate straight and inclined parts,

feed means for introducing shells onto said conveyor where they areintermittently advanced, a guide to prevent lateral displacement of saidshells, means for introducing cementitious material into said shells,means for coagulating the cementitious material, a star wheel to whichthe shells are transferred by said conveyor, and means including feedingmechanism for introducing a resilient disc into said shell.

4. A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel. comprisingmeans for receiving and intermittently and longitudin ally advancingmetallic shells in endless succession and passing the shells in therecesses between fingers on said star Wheel, means for positioning aresilient disc above each shell as it passes said last means, and meansfor pressing said disc into said shell and removing said assembled capfrom said star wheel.

5. A bottle cap assembling machine in-v cluding a star wheel, comprisingmeans having a continuous rib provided with alternate straight andinclined parts for receiving and intermittently advancing metallicshells in endless succession and passing the shells in the recessesbetween fingers on said star wheel, means for positioning a resilientdisc above each shell as itpasses said last means, and means for pressinsaid disc into said shell and removing Silk? assembled cap from saidstar wheel.

6. A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel, comprisingmeans having a continuous rib provided with alternate straight andinclined parts cooperating with a part having a dovetail slot forreceiving and intermittently advancing metallic shells in endlesssuccession and passing the shells in the recesses between fingers onsaid star wheel, means for positioning a resilient disc above each shellas it passes said last means, and means for pressing said disc into saidshell and removing said assembled cap from said star wheel.

/ 7 A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel, comprisingmeans for receiving and intermittently and longitudinally advancingmetallic shells in endless succession and passing the shells in therecesses between fingers on said star wheel, a reciprocating feed barfor positioning a resilient disc above each shell as it passes said bar,and means for pressing said disc into said shell and removing saidassembled cap from said star wheel.

8. A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel, comprisingmeans having a continuous rib provided with alternate straight andinclined parts for receiving and intermittently advancing metallicshells in endless succession and passing the shells in the recessesbetween fingers on said star wheel, a reciprocating feed bar forposition- .ing a resilient disc above each shell as it 7 passes saldbar, and means-for pressing said disc into said shell and ,i'emovingsaid assembled cap from said stair wheel. I

9. A bottle cap assembling machine includ ing a star wheel comprisingmeans having a continuous rib provided wit-ii alternate straight andinclined parts cooperating with a part having a dove-tail slot forreceiving and intermittently advancing metallic shells in endlesssuccession and passing the shells in the recesses between fingers onsaid star wheel, a reciprocating feed bar for, positioning a resilientdisc above each \shell as it passes said bar, and means for pressingsaid disc into said shell and removing said assembled cap from said starwheel.

10. A bottle cap assembling machine in cluding a star wheel, comprisingmeans for receiving and intermittently and longitudinally advancingformed metallic shells in endless succession and passing the shells inthe recesses between fingers on said star wheel, means for placingcementitious main endless succession and passing the.

shells in the recesses between fingers on said star wheel, means forplacing cementitious material in said shells, means for coagulating saidmaterial, a reciprocating feed bar for positioning a resilient discabove each shell as it passes said last means, means for pressing saiddisc into said shell and onto said cementitious material and removingsaid assembled cap from said star wheel.

12. A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel, comprisingmeans having a continuous rib provided alternate straight and inclinedparts cooperating with a part having a dove-tail slot for receiving andintermittently advancing formed me; tallic shells in endless successionand passing the shells in the recesses between fingers on said starwheel, means for placing cementitious material in said shells, means forcoagulating said material, means for positioning a resilient disc aboveeach shell as it passes said last means, means for pressing said discinto said shelland onto said cementitious material and removing saidassembled cap from said star wheel.

13. A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel, comprisingmeans having a continuous rib provided with alternate straight andinclined parts cooperating with a part having a dovetail slot forreceiving and intermittently advancing formed metallic shells in endlesssuccession and passing the shells in the recesses between fingers onsaid star wheel, mean for placing cementitious material in said shells,means for coagul-ating said material, a reciprocating feed bar forpositioning a resilient disc above each shell as it passes said lastmeans, means for pressing said disc into said shell and onto saidcementitious material and removing said assembled cap from said starwheel.

14. A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel, comprisingmeans for receiving and intermittently and longitudinally advancingmetallic shells in endlesssuccession and passing the shells in therecesses between fingers on said star wheel, a reciprocating feed barfor positioning a resilient disc above each shell as it passes said bar,means for pressing said disc into said shell and removin said assembledcap from the starwheel, an means for preventing the feeding of a discwhen the shell is wanting.

15. A bottle cap assembling machine including a star wheel, comprisingmeans having a continuous rib provided with alternate straight andinclined parts cooperating with a part having a slot for receiving andintermittently advancing metallic shells in endless succession andpassing the shells in the recesses between fingers on said star wheel, areciprocating feedv bar for positioning a resilient disc above eachshell as .it passes said bar, means for pressin said disc into saidshell and removing sai assembled cap from the star wheel, and means forpreventing the feeding of a disc when the shell is wanting.

16.. In a bottle cap' assembling machine, disc feeding mechanismcomprising a stationary jaw and a resilient jaw for positioning a discabove a shell, a longitudinally reciprocable feed'bar for placing thedisc between said jaws, and means including an eccentric for operatingsaid feed bar.

17. In a bottle cap assemblingmachine, disc feeding mechanism comprisinga stationary jaw and a resilient jaw for positioning a disc above ashell, a reciprocating feed barfor placing the disc between said jaws,means including an eccentric for operating said feed bar, and means fordisengaging said feed bar from said means when a shell is wanting.

18. In a bottle cap assembling machine having a disc supply tube, discfeeding mechanism comprising a stationary jaw and a re silient jaw forpositioning a disc above a shell, a longitudinally reciprocable feed barfor cutting out the lowermost disc from said tube and placing the samebetween said jaws, and means including an eccentric for reciprocatingsaid feed bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ANDREW WEISENBURG.

